ROANOKE, Va. – For the second year in a row, Castleton University's James Rodriguez has earned NCAA Division III Wrestling All-America status, guaranteeing himself a top-eight finish at the event after a pair of wins on Friday.
 
The eighth-seeded Rodriguez now advances to Saturday's consolation quarterfinals, where he goes toe-to-toe with the No. 4 seed from Stevens Tech, Kyle Slendorn. Rodriguez opened Friday with a victory over SUNY Cortland's Cahal Donovan before falling to unseeded Wheaton (Ill.) wrestler Ethan Harsted, who upset the top seed in the first round. After the loss sent Rodriguez to the consolation bracket, he picked up a 9-5 win via decision over Wabash's Evan Burge thanks to a pair of third-period takedowns and the riding time bonus point.
 
Castleton had four other wrestlers in action on Friday at the National Championships, with Gavin Bradley and Sampson Wilkins each making it to the blood round before being eliminated. Bradley won his first match of the day with a 7-4 decision over Delaware Valley's Jacob Blair to earn a bout against second-seeded Jacob Decatur of Baldwin Wallace. Bradley was pinned in the first period against Decatur, moving him to the consolation bracket. He won his first consolation bout 9-4 against Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Luc Valdez, putting him one win away from All-America status. He came up short in the blood round with a 10-1 major decision loss to eighth-seeded Brady Koontz of Dubuque. Bradley finished the season 37-11 after an impressive freshman campaign.
 
Wilkins, appearing in his first NCAA National Championship, pulled off an upset victory in the first round by defeating the No. 4 seed from Wabash, Charles Baczek. Wilkins shut him down, winning a 3-0 decision. He drew the No. 5 seed, Donovan Corn from Luther, and had the tables turned as he was shut out 5-0 to move to the consolation bracket where he battled third-seeded David McCullough of Coast Guard. Wilkins had a lead in the third period, but McCullough netted a late takedown for the victory, ending Wilkins' run. The junior finished the season with a 35-14 mark.
 
Michael Angers was competitive at 165 pounds but fell in both of his bouts, first to seventh-seeded Cooper Willis of Augsburg and later to Jordan Hardrick of Ohio Northern. Both losses were via decision as Angers concluded the season with a 30-12 record.
 
Cooper Fleming was in the 174-pound bracket, but dropped bouts to third-seeded Seth Brossard of Wisconsin La Crosse before bowing out against Averett's Alex Turley. The loss to Brossard was via pin fall, while the elimination loss to Turley was a narrow decision, 9-7. Turley led 4-2 after the first period and kept Fleming at bay the remainder of the match to end the fifth-year senior's season with a 31-13 record and his second National Championship appearance.
 
Rodriguez is back in action tomorrow as he looks to improve upon his eighth-place finish in 2022. Any victory on Saturday will result in a higher placement, with a third-place finish the best possible remaining result for the 141-pounder.